National Republican., 1887-12-28
IRISH MANUFACTURERS.
Interesting Data Upon Economic Co
dition of Ireland.

Consul j. schoenhof, at Tunstall, Eng
land, in his report to the Department OF
State upon the economic condition of Ire.
land, treats upon the linen, hosiery, and
lace manufactures OF that country. He
finds that the earnings OF the people en-
ployed in the linen mills in Ulster are far
below those OF any class employed In the
textile branches In England. Mill regua
tlons and working time, Of course, are the
same for the whole kingdom. FLAX
breakers, men who have to do very exhaust
ing werk, earn from 10 shiliinge to 90 shil.
lIngs per week; hackers, from is shilliugs
TO 23 sbillings; spinners aud girls,
from S shilllngs to 10 shillings; half.
timers, boys, 8 shillings, and girls, 4 shil.
linge, and weavers, mostly women tending
two looms, from IL to 10 shillings. Damask
weavers earn q few more shillings per week
In this connection, however, the consul
says the linen trade suffers from depres.
sion. This is partly due TO the fact that
not go much linen Is used, owing to the
great cbeapening in cotton manufacturing,
as was the case in former times, aud partly
also because the use OF brown linen for
ladies' dress hss ceased through change OF
fashion, but principally through the great
reaction following the Immense expansions
In the wake Of the American war and the
cotton famine consequent thereto.
In regard to the woolen industries, the
co5sui notes the following current wages:
For men, from 10 to j. shillings- IA shil
lings being about the limit Of the best mem
spinner girls, 8 to 10 shillings; children,
| To @ shillings, aud weavers earn from 10 to
| l2 shillings. The mill, employing about
| $50 hands, pays out about f400 per week IN
wages.
The consul says that with the advantages
| Of cheap labor and great eagerness for fnd
| ing opportunities to work all over Ireland,
with an intelligent population, quick tC
take up and learn oil manipulatlons to
| which they are set, with the excellent quail.
ity Uf the wool which the Irish sheep pro-
| duce, one should expect to find quite q
ilourlshipg industry there. But there are
no more tnat half dozen prosperous mills
in all Ireland, employing in all but few
thousand hands, aud great many mills
| closed up for want of orders.
With reference to the hosiery manufac
turCs the consul states that girls and EN-
broiderers employed by the Balbdgg An
hose manufactory earn from shill
iDgs toS shillings per week--a neat and
nice employment. II is difficult, however
to keep them at home when they have be
come practical and are well trained to th,
work, as they are very quick at leayln and
| going ton ottiugbam, where they earn Il
shllliDgs per week; also showing that, Il
anything, cheap wages are in favor of B H.
briggan and not against It. Toe change ia
fashion from fine white to cheap cUlorot
hose is also set down as a source Of diff
Guilty to the Balbrlggsn manufacturers
| The reputation OF Irish lace the consu
| declares to be more extensive than its real
ities, and adds that the designs of irish lac,
and the whole workmanship of the man,
numerous kinds are so poor and unartistit
that few people would wear them II it wer,
not to buy them as kind OF curiosity. fo
charity's sake, or as a reminiscence of {
| visit to Ireland. - .l-aa--o-.- -